"We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a part of NATO. We have a firm commitment
to Europe. We are a part of Europe."

"I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy - but
that could change."

"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any Governor, and that one word is
'to be prepared'."

"I have made good judgements in the past. I have made good judgements in the
future."

"A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls."

"The American people would not want to know of any misquotes that George Bush may or
may not make."

"We're all capable of mistakes, but I do not care to enlighten you on the mistakes we
may or may not have made."

"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air
and water that are doing it."

"[It's] time for the human race to enter the solar system."

"I think we can agree. The past is over"

"It was just inebriating what Midland was all about then."

"It's clearly the budget. It has a lot of numbers on it."

"The most important job is not to be governor, or first lady in my case."

"Will the highways on the Internet become more few?"

"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"

"Laura & I really don't realize how bright our children is."

"I was raised in the West. The west of Texas. It's pretty close to California. In
more ways than Washington, D.C. is close to California."

"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family."

"Please don't look at the part of the glass that is only half full."

"No you're not going to see me stay put... You may not see me put as much - I mean,
un-put as much"

"You cannot be president of the United States of you don't have faith. Remember
Lincoln, going to his knees in times of trial and the Civil War and all that stuff. You
can't be. And we are blessed. So don't feel sorry for - don't cry for me, Argentina."

"I don't want to just sit here blaming Congress. I mean, we're all in this
together."
(11/20/91 to news anchor Bill Stuart of KCNC-TV, Denver.)

"I think the Congress should be blamed."
(Minutes later, to Warner Saunders of WMAQ-TV, Chicago.)

"If a frog had wings, he wouldn't hit his tail on the ground. 'If.' Too
hypothetical."

"And let me say in conclusion, thanks for the kids. I learned an awful lot about
bathtub toys - about how to work the telephone. One guy knows - several of them know their
own phone numbers - preparation to go to the dentist. A lot of things I'd forgotten. So
it's been a good day."

"I went over to the Strawberry Festival this morning, and ate a piece of shortcake
over there - able to enjoy it right away, and once I completed it, it didn't have to be
approved by Congress - I just went ahead and ate it - and that leads me into what I want
to talk to you about today..."

"I've coined new words, like, misunderstanding and Hispanically."

"I suspect that had my dad not been president, he'd be asking the same questions:
How'd your meeting go with so-and-so? How did you feel when you stood up in front
of the people for the State of the Union Addressstate of the budget address,
whatever you call it."

"I think there is some methodology in my travels."

"Of all states that understands local control of schools, Iowa is such a state."

"Those of us who spent time in the agricultural sector and in the heartland, we
understand how unfair the death penalty is." (Bush was asked about the death penalty,
but got confused with the subject of death duty.)

"You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test."

"I am mindful not only of preserving executive powers for myself, but for my
predecessors as well."

"Then I went for a run with the other dog and just walked. And I started thinking
about a lot of things. I was able toI can't remember what it was. Oh, the inaugural
speech, started thinking through that."

"Redefining the role of the United States from enablers to keep the peace to enablers
to keep the peace from peacekeepers is going to be an assignment."

"The California crunch really is the result of not enough power-generating plants and
then not enough power to power the power of generating plants."

"I'm hopeful. I know there is a lot of ambition in Washington, obviously. But I hope
the ambitious realize that they are more likely to succeed with success as opposed to
failure."

"If he'sthe inference is that somehow he thinks slavery is ais a noble
institution I wouldI would strongly reject that assumption that John Ashcroft is a
open-minded, inclusive person."

"I believe the results of focusing our attention and energy on teaching children to
read and having an education system that's responsive to the child and to the parents, as
opposed to mired in a system that refuses to change, will make America what we want it to
bea literate country and a hopefuller country."

"I would have to ask the questioner. I haven't had a chance to ask the questioners
the question they've been questioning."

"Natural gas is hemispheric. I like to call it hemispheric in nature because it is a
product that we can find in our neighborhoods."

"Let me put it to you this way, I am not a revengeful person."

"I am mindful of the difference between the executive branch and the legislative
branch. I assured all four of these leaders that I know the difference, and that
difference is they pass the laws and I execute them."

"The legislature's job is to write law. It's the executive branch's job to interpret
law."

"The great thing about America is everybody should vote."

"They misunderestimated me."

"They want the federal government controlling Social Security like it's some kind of
federal program."

"It's your money. You paid for it."

"That's a chapter, the last chapter of the 20th, 20th, the 21st century that most of
us would rather forget. The last chapter of the 20th century. This is the first chapter of
the 21st century. "

"It's important for us to explain to our nation that life is important. It's not only
life of babies, but it's life of children living in, you know, the dark dungeons of the
Internet."

"I want to have a ballistic defence system so that we can make the world more
peaceful, and at the same time I want to reduce our own nuclear capacities to the level
commiserate with keeping the peace."

"Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream."

"Our priorities is our faith."

"I mean, there needs to be a wholesale effort against racial profiling, which is
illiterate children."

"[Gore's tax plan is] going to require numerous IRA agents."

"I think if you know what you believe, it makes it a lot easier to answer questions.
I can't answer your question."

"I know that human being and fish can coexist peacefully."

"I will have a foreign-handed foreign policy."

"One of the common denominators I have found is that expectations rise above that
which is expected."

"It is clear our nation is reliant upon big foreign oil. More and more of our imports
come from overseas."

"I don't think we need to be subliminable about the differences between our views on
prescription drugs."

"We don't believe in planners and deciders making the decisions on behalf of
Americans."

"Well, I think if you say you're going to do something and don't do it, that's
trustworthiness."

"The Holocaust was an obscene period in our nation's history. I mean in this
century's history. But we all lived in this century. I didn't live in this century."

"The fundamental question is, 'Will I be a successful president when it comes to
foreign policy?' I will be, but until I'm the president, it's going to be hard for me to
verify that I think I'll be more effective."

"I do not believe we've put a guilty ... I mean innocent person to death in the state
of Texas."

"I've readI understand reality. If you're asking me as the president, would I
understand reality, I do."

"There's not going to be enough people in the system to take advantage of people like
me." (On social security.)

GOV. BUSH: I talked to my little brother, JebI haven't told this to many people, but
he's the governor ofI shouldn't call him my little brother--my brother, Jeb, the
great governor of Texas.
JIM LEHRER: Florida.
GOV. BUSH: Florida. The state of the Florida.

"I understand small business growth. I was one."

"If you're sick and tired of the politics of cynicism and polls and principles, come
and join this campaign."

"I've changed my style somewhat, as you know. I'm lessI pontificate less,
although it may be hard to tell it from this show. And I'm more interacting with
people."

"This is Preservation Month. I appreciate preservation. It's what you do when you run
for President. You gotta preserve." (Speaking during "Perseverance Month".)

"The only thing I know about Slovakia is what I learned first-hand from your foreign
minister, who came to Texas."
(Bush's meeting was with Janez Drnovsek, the prime minister of Slovenia)

"Keep good relations with the Grecians."

"Kosovians can move back in."

"I propose that every city have a telephone number 119 -- for dyslexics who have an
emergency."

"I don't know whether I'm going to win or not. I think I am. I do know I'm ready for
the job. And, if not, that's just the way it goes."